<p>Facebook Messenger.(Photo: Facebook)Story HighlightsText messaging is billed by your carrierMobile messaging apps are a good alternative for smartphonesWait to shut off text messaging until you know alternatives work for you</p><p>Do you pay for text messaging? If you have a smartphone, you don't have to. There are plenty of mobile messaging app alternatives that you can try at no cost. They work with different types of phones, your computer, and even communicate with your friends' regular phones. Plus they work over Wi-Fi great if you're traveling internationally.</p><p>MOBILE MESSAGING VS. TEXT MESSAGES</p><p>So what's the difference between mobile messages and text messages? Text messaging is an app that your carrier loads on the smartphones and feature phones they sell you. Mobile messaging is an app you download on to your smartphone, but is not available on feature phones. Both types of messaging let you send text and photos.</p><p><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2013/06/15/techlicious-text-message-alternatives/2423169/">Keep reading...</a></p>